Douglas Hall move joint top of U17 Premier League with strong second half against Leeds

Douglas Hall 3 

Leeds 1

Douglas Hall moved joint top of the Daly Industrial Supplies U17 Premier League when they defeated Leeds in a very entertaining game at Moneygourney on Saturday.

Douglas went in front in the 14th minute with a screamer of a goal by Shane Barrett. They could have been further ahead on only for some excellent goalkeeping by Leeds net minder Jack Clancy. 

However, Leeds equalised against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Darragh Duhig scored a wonderful breakaway goal to go in level.

The Hall restored their advantage to lead in the 75th minute when Macdarragh Lynch scored from the penalty spot. 

They followed up two minutes later when Lynch finished off after great work by substitute Vilson Sefolli.

Across a very competitive opening 10 minutes, most of the play was played in the middle of the park. 

Douglas took the lead 1-0 in the 14th minute, Luke Murray play a delightful ball to the feet of Shane Barrett on the edge of the Leeds box, he then opened his body to fire an unstoppable effort high into the roof of the net. 

Hall had a great opportunity to double their lead five minutes later when Barrett got on the end of a Lynch cross-field ball but Jack Clancy pushed his effort around the post. 

Clancy was called into action again in the 30th minute when Barrett was through on goal but the Leeds stopper made himself big to make a fine save. 

After another good passage of play from the home side, sub Eoin McCarthy put in a dangerous ball across the Leeds box and when Barrett got his toe to it, Clancy was on hand to make another superb save.

Then came the pivotal point of the first half, Lynch delivered a superb cross into the Leeds box in the 43rd minute, met by the head of Barrett, but his effort crashed off the crossbar and Clancy punched away the rebound. 

Leeds then broke up the pitch and when Johnny Chen released Daniel Duhig, he expertly powered his effort home to level.

Clancy was called into action again six minutes from the restart when he denied McCarthy’s power effort from close range. 

At the other side of the pitch, Leeds had a chance to take the lead. Aaron Crowley picked up a loose ball outside the Hall box but his effort went inches over the bar. 

It was now very open, but the Hall had the majority of possession. When Mark Keeshan played in McCarthy five minutes later, it took a wonderful and timely tackle by the Leeds Adam Patterson to nick the ball off his toes. 

Then came a huge moment in the game. Elvis Alade put Lynch through on goal and Clancy raced off his line but he caught Lynch and a penalty was rightly awarded. Lynch stepped up to take the spot kick and kept his composure to put his side 2-1 ahead. 

DOUGLAS Hall: Noel Cantwell, Cillian Ross, Darragh O’Flaherty, Clayton Tait, Mark Keeshan, Luke Murray, Elvis Alade, Finn Doyle, Shane Barrett, Tom Collins, Macdarragh Lynch.

Subs: Eoin McCarthy for Doyle (25), Jamie O’Halloran for Collins (h-t), Vilson Sefolli for Alade (57), Craig O’Sullivan for Murray (80).

LEEDS: Jack Clancy, Alex O’Sullivan, Darragh Goldsmith, Adam Patterson, Euan Weighton, Johnny Chen, Cillian O’Callaghan, Aaron Crowley, Daniel Duhig, Adam Sienicki.

Sub: Craig Virgo for Sienicki (74).

Referee: Dave Finnegan.